How to take the rail journey from Copenhagen / København to Hamburg

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København / Copenhagen to Hamburg by train

These trains provide the only year round service from the Danish capital to northern Germany.
So for most of the year if you want to travel entirely by train from Norway or Sweden to continental Europe, this is the route to take.
Though early booking is recommended, particularly during June to September, when some departures can sell out days in advance!
Though there are now also two direct overnight train services from Stockholm and on to Berlin via Hamburg.
One of which, the Berlin Night Express, calls at a station in the Kobenhavn suburbs, so will provide an overnight alternative to these IC trains.

Routes you can take to go from København / Copenhagen to Hamburg

When travelling between most cities by train there is only one logical option, though on other journeys there is a choice between different trains or alternative routes. If different options are available you can use the info to decide which is best for you.

Choose one of the following options:

Looking for connections?

Journey guides for travel to København / Copenhagen Journey guides for travel from Hamburg

Route Information

Station Guides

A view of the tracks/spor at København H station

København H /Copenhagen H Rail Station Guide

Hamburg Hbf Rail Station Guide

Travel Time (approx)

4hr 40min

Frequency

Daily

Travel Info

3 - 6 x trains per day

Travel Information

Final Destination: Hamburg

All trains also call at: Ringtsted and Odense (they do not call at Roskilde)

Until June 14th and from Aug 26th:
These trains to Hamburg are usually scheduled to depart from Kobenhavn at 07:26; 09:26 11:26; 13;26 and 15:26 - the service has been increased by more than 60% on the new timetable!

June 14th to Aug 26th:

Between these dates two additional departures will be available on the summer timetable, with an earlier first train of the day at 05:26; and a later final train of the day at 17:26.

The overnight option:

During the 2024, from March 31st to November 1st on Monday to Friday and Sunday The Berlin Night Express will depart from Høje Taastrup st at 23:06.
Local S-Tog trains on line ,B link multiple stations in central Copenhagen/Kobenhavn to Høje Taastrup st.

This train, which is direct to Berlin, will typically due to arrive in Hamburg at around 05:30.

This is a direct journey

You will be travelling on one of these trains...

Close up of a Danish IC train on an EC service at Hamburg Hbf

IC/EC (Denmark / Germany) Train Guide

One of the relatively new Intercity 2 trains

IC (Germany) Train Guide

Good to Know

Some of the departures are now operated by German IC trains, which have more than twice as many seats as the Danish IC trains

Crossing the Great Belt Link on a train heading to Copenhagen

Passing through Flensburg, there are some distant sea views to the north of here

Passing through Ringsted, the train will spiral up to cross this viaduct

Crossing the Kiel Canal in Ringsted

The train will then gradually descend from the bridge

These trains used to be shunted on to a ferry for a sea crossing between Denmark, but the Danish part of that route is being affected by engineering works in preparation for the opening of the Fehmarn Fixed Link tunnel in around 2028.

Hence this train service between the Danish capital and Hamburg has been re-routed to travel overland
via the Jutland peninsular.

So a less fascinating journey than the previous route and this route is scenically uninteresting too, but it does have three highlights, which you can't miss if you will be travelling when it's daylight.

(1) Around 15 mins after departing Ringsted, the train will cross the Great Belt Fixed Link between Zealand and the island of Funen.

(2) After departure from Odense he train will cross the Little Belt Bridge, which connects the island of Funen to Jutland.

(3) The spectacular crossing of the Kiel Canal on the Rendsburg High Bridge - the corkscrew ascent from the town and its station is quite something.

Though the video was filmed from a train travelling in the opposite direction.

The general guide to German rail travel Discover what's good to know about riding the trains, using the major stations, booking tickets and travelling with Eurail and InterRail passes.

The general guide to Danish rail travel Discover what's good to know about riding the trains, using the major stations, booking tickets and travelling with Eurail and InterRail passes.

Take the stress out of your journey Everything planned to your specification, so sit back and relax… Try Concierge

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